I Was Thrown Under The Bus...

Just a Funny Story...

Let me set the mood here. It's a school day. There are four kids in our family. We are running just alittle late. 'Let's Go,' becomes my battle cry for that morning. Now, normally we do a check-list before we leave: do you guys have everything, is there anything I need to sign, and don't forget your homework. However, on this day we were rushed. There was a key issue that was overlooked.

We are just minutes from school. I was feeling relieved that it looked like we would make it. But, it just hit me. 'Boys, did you brush your teeth?' Their silence was all the answer I needed. Man! Come On!

The church-planter in me kicks in, nothing ever goes as planned. Hal Mayer taught me that. Jay, you got to improvise! 'Alright, here's some gum - it's better than nothing.' I really thought I saved the day! Super-Dad! The kids pile out of the van, head into school, and I'm on the way home. All was good - or WAS IT?

A few weeks later I found out what happened that day. The boys, who are in the second grade, walked into school chomping gum. They got busted. Their teacher doesn't miss a thing, you know, the boys are twins and need to be watched twice as carefully. They get sent to the Principle's Office. 'Why Do You Have Gum!?' Then it happened.

They told her the whole story. I mean The WHOLE Story! 'We were late for school.' 'We were in a hurry.' 'OUR DAD GAVE US THE GUM BECAUSE WE DIDN'T BRUSH OUR TEETH.' Awesome! Great. I should have known those kids would spill it all if caught. They sold me out and Threw Me Under the Bus. They might as well told their principle that their dad was an idiot. Here I was trying to fix a problem - and all it did was lead to another.

If you got a funny story...please tell us by commenting to this post.

Full Throttle for Jesus

All Out! Pedal to the Metal! Full Throttle! Here's the question: 'How Do You Know You're On the Right Track?' My Answer: You Know By What Happens. In my own experiences, I have found that 'smooth sailing' is not where God wants us to be, especially at Real Life. Christ wants us out on the edge. He wants us leaning over the edge. He wants us over the edge!

We are to love God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. Basically, with everything we are - holding nothing back. How does this affect what happens? We see the response. In your walk, what response do you get? There was a time in my life that I had my Life Walk in neutral...and I wasn't going anywhere. I saw it by what happened around me - or better yet - by what wasn't happening around me. So, here's the deal. Go Full Throttle.

Put aside your fears. Don't listen to what people call you - all those nasty names that are meant to hurt you. Don't shy away from the uncomfortable circumstances. Live your Life for Christ to the fullest. When you do, battles come. Issues arise. I had heard someone say that you feel pain to remind you that you're still alive. So, is it true that we face spiritual battles for the same reason - to remind us that we are Alive in Christ?

I think so. Go Full Throttle. Tell me your story.

Real Lifers are Awesome

Sunday marked the beginning of our launch at Real Life. I think back at all the prep work, the paint, and the hours spent getting ready and only one word comes to mind - 'WHEW!' It has been a fast-paced 3 months.

Regardless of how tired we are, there are those moments when the adrenaline gets us going. You know, pumped beyond all measure. That was the scene this past Sunday. We saw 8 first-timers ar Real Life. That is Awesomeness!

The foundation has been laid and now we can continue to move forward and reaching for the goal ahead. There is always room on this journey of awesomeness. You wanna join? Leave a comment and let me know.

This Video is WHY Palin is Awesome...

I think this video was awesome. This little girl, Piper, is fixing her little brother's hair. People can make fun of it all they want - to me it was awesome because it is REAL! That's who I want to support - someone who will be real when 32 million are watching.

Anyone who has kids knows what's going on...we all rely on big brothers and big sisters to help out. I've got four kids - I need some help. This was a perfect example of what our country needs right now - spit and a caring hand. We're not perfect - but hey nothing a spit-bath hairdo won't fix.

I can't wait to see what happens next.

The RNC vs. The DNC

I am getting tired of the same old politics. This side verses that side. This issue and that issue. This is politics - they tell you what you want to hear so they can get your vote.

Now, I'm Pro-Life. How many candidates in the last 2 decades have shared their own view of being pro-life? How many have made an impact on that issue? I know, we can argue partial-birth and a few other issues - but the fact remains - RVW is still in effect (for 35 years).

Gas prices. This one's for alternative fuel sources and this one is for drilling in Alaska. We have bio-fuels, E85, hybrids, and whatever else there is. Great. What happens when an alternative form of energy is 3 times more expensive that what we have now? The average family (that DOES NOT MAKE $150K) has a hard time making ends meet with gas, groceries, and life as it is already. What happens when energy and fuel cost increase 300%?

Terror. I'm all for the war on terror so we don't have to face a situation like 9/11 again. There is a national and global need for being safe. I guess, that's my question. How will we be safer tomorrow than today?

I guess what I am trying to say is that the ideas this year are awesome. We've had a woman try to be the presidential candidate. We have a black man running for president. And, we have a woman trying to be the vice-president. All of this is cool, it really is. I just want to know, who is going to make our country better tomorrow than it is today.

Three Years Later...It's Gustav

I sat and watched the waves hit New Orleans today in awe and fear. My prayer was very simple..."God, please help them!" This wasn't much different than my prayer three years ago when Katrina hit with such devastation. The only difference was how we heard about it.

Katrina came and left New Orleans in waste...I didn't even know until 2 days later. 'How could you miss it?' See, that's the thing...we didn't really 'miss' it, we were just out of town, in Seoul, Korea.

Three years ago...while Katrina was destroying Louisiana, April and I were trying to bring our youngest daughter, Chan Hee, home from Korea. This anniversary was brought full circle this morning as I heard those little feet, now 4, moving this morning. Man, God is good! This weekend will always hold that remembrance in my life, forever connected to the storm of all storms.